Charlotte and Memphis brave snowstorm, play to 1,000 fans

NBA AL DIA

There are quite a few NBA fans that wouldn't brave a clear and 72-degree day to see a game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Bobcats,
so you can't blame nine-tenths of the over 10,000 people that bought
tickets to Monday night's Bobcats/Grizzlies game for staying home
instead of braving the elements and taking in this classic.

To call the showing sparse would be an understatement. The arena (which can be outfitted to hold 20,000 fans)
echoed with every dribble. The upper tier featured a not-at-all-obvious
curtain that blocked off the empty seats. Just one-third of Charlotte's
dance team showed. And both players and coaches had to be warned to
watch their language, as both the television mics and sparse crowd could
hear every rude word with ease without the usual lip-reading involved.

And the game? The game was terrible. Memphis (especially if Denver decides to rebuild and trade Carmelo Anthony(notes))
has a real shot at making the playoffs out West, and the Bobcats
actually made the postseason last year, but Memphis seemed ill at ease
with the strange setting, and struggled throughout.

Matt
Carroll's first hint was the curtains blocking off the upper deck when
he came out for his pregame shooting routine. The effects of a rare
Southern snowstorm really hit home just before tip-off when the
Charlotte guard was supposed to throw a free T-shirt into the crowd.

"I
was looking around and I couldn't find anybody," Carroll said. "So I
said I was going to throw it up to a zone and see if someone can get
it."